Two men arrested after fight, shot fired at Ocean Springs nightclub

OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- Two men were arrested early Saturday morning after an altercation at a downtown Ocean Springs nightclub during which a shot was fired, although no one was injured.

According to Ocean Springs Police Capt. Chuck Jackson, officers responded to a report of a shot fired at the Boots & Spurs club on Bellande Avenue just before 3 a.m. Saturday.

When they arrived, officers saw a large crowd outside the club and were directed to a location in the parking lot, where they found one suspect, Matthew Smith, who told police he had been in an altercation with another man -- identified as Larry Ratliff III -- who fired a round from an undisclosed firearm.

The altercation apparently started when club security escorted another man from inside the bar and Smith attempted to intervene. Boots & Spurs security then escorted Smith and another individual from the business, after which they were confronted by Ratliff.

Investigators say the one shot was likely fired into the ground, possibly by accident during the altercation between Ratliff and Smith. No one was injured.

The 25-year-old Ratliff, of Ocean Springs, was arrested and charged with brandishing a firearm. The 27-year-old Smith, of Vancleave, was charged with public drunk.

Anyone with additional information on this incident is asked to call the Ocean Springs Police Department at 228-875-2211.